Method and system for preventing unauthorized recording of media content in the iTunes™ environment

• US 7,570,761 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Music Public Broadcasting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Risan, Hank, Fitzgerald, Edward Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moorthy, Aravind K
• Application Number:
  US10/772,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20050169467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: 380/201
• US Class Current: 380/201
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00137 involving measures which result in a restriction to contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier to authorised users
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00195 using a device identifier associated with the player or recorder, e.g. serial numbers of playback apparatuses or MAC addresses
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00224 wherein the key is obtained from a remote server
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00659 involving a control step which is implemented as an executable file stored on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00702 said measures preventing that data are recorded on the recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00884 involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

A method and system for preventing unauthorized recording of media content in an iTunes™ environment. Embodiment of the method begins by activating a compliance mechanism in response to receiving media content at a client system. The media content is received from a content provider providing content in a format compatible with an iTunes™ media service. Also, the client system has a media content presentation application that is capable of handling the media content operable thereon and coupled to the compliance mechanism. The method continues by controlling a data output path carrying the media content of the client system with the compliance mechanism. Thereafter, the method directs the media content to a custom media device coupled that is coupled to the compliance mechanism via the data output path. In this way, the embodiment of the method is capable of selectively restricting output of the media content.

Claims

1. A method of preventing unauthorized recording of electronic media comprising:

activating a compliance mechanism in response to receiving media content at a client system from a content provider providing content in a format compatible with an online media service, said compliance mechanism coupled to said client system, said client system having a media content presentation application capable of handling said media content operable thereon and coupled to said compliance mechanism;

controlling a data output path carrying said media content of said client system with said compliance mechanism by diverting a commonly used data pathway of said media content presentation application to a controlled data pathway monitored by said compliance mechanism; and

directing said media content to a custom media device coupled to said compliance mechanism via said data output path, for selectively restricting output of said media content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said custom media device comprises an MP3 player.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restricting said client system to have said custom media device implemented as a default media device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

interfacing with said online media service through said media content presentation application that comprises a media player application.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

interfacing with said online media service through said media content presentation application that comprises an operating system compatible media player application.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

preventing a recording application coupled to said client system from recording said media content when said recording said media content does not comply with at least one usage restriction applicable to said media content as applied by said online media service.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing a recording application coupled to said client system for recording said media content when said recording said media content complies with usage restrictions applicable to said media content as applied by said online media service.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authorizing said client system to receive said media content.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing an indicator associated with said media content for indicating to said compliance mechanism that a usage restriction is applicable to said media content.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

altering said compliance mechanism in response to a change in a usage restriction applicable to said media content as applied by said online media service, wherein said usage restriction comprises a copyright restriction or licensing agreement applicable to said media content.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said media content is received from a source coupled to said client system, said source from the group consisting of:

a network, an electronic media device, a media storage device, a media storage device inserted in a media device player, a media player application, and a media recorder application.

12. A method of preventing unauthorized recording of electronic media comprising:

activating a compliance mechanism in response to handling media content at a client system that is operating an operating system, wherein said content complies with a format compatible with an operating system compatible online media service, said compliance mechanism coupled to said client system;

controlling a data output path carrying said media content of said client system with said compliance mechanism by diverting a commonly used data pathway of a media content presentation application to a controlled data pathway monitored by said compliance mechanism; and

directing said media content to a custom media device coupled to said compliance mechanism via said data output path, for selectively restricting output of said media content.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving said media content from a content provider providing content in a format compatible with said online media service.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving said compliance mechanism in a package that contains said media content; and

installing said compliance mechanism on said client system.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said handling said media content further comprises:

interfacing with said operating system compatible online media service through a media content presentation application that comprises an operating system compatible media player application.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

preventing a recording application coupled to said client system from recording said media content when said recording said media content does not comply with at least one usage restriction applicable to said media content as applied by said online media service.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

allowing a recording application coupled to said client system for recording said media content when said recording said media content complies with usage restrictions applicable to said media content as applied by said online media service.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

accessing an watermark associated with said media content for indicating to said compliance mechanism that a usage restriction is applicable to said media content.

19. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable memory coupled to said processor and containing program instructions that, when executed, implement a method of preventing unauthorized recording of electronic media comprising;

activating a compliance mechanism in response to receiving media content at a client system from a content provider providing content in a format compatible with an online media service, said compliance mechanism coupled to said client system, said client system having a media content presentation application capable of handling said media content operable thereon and coupled to said compliance mechanism;

controlling a data output path carrying said media content of said computer system with said compliance mechanism by diverting a commonly used data pathway of said media content presentation application to a controlled data pathway monitored by said compliance mechanism; and

directing said media content to a custom media device coupled to said compliance mechanism via said data output path, for selectively restricting output of said media content.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said custom media device comprises an MP3 player.

21. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said method further comprises:

restricting said computer system to have said custom media device implemented as a default media device.

22. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said method further comprises:

interfacing with said online media service through said media content presentation application that comprises a media player application.

23. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said method further comprises:

interfacing with said online media service through said media content presentation application that comprises an operating system compatible media player application.

24. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said method further comprises:

preventing a recording application coupled to said computer system from recording said media content when said recording said media content does not comply with at least one usage restriction applicable to said media content as applied by said online media service.

25. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said method further comprises:

allowing a recording application coupled to said computer system for recording said media content when said recording said media content complies with usage restrictions applicable to said media content as applied by said online media service.

26. The computer system of claim 19, further comprising:

authorizing said computer system to receive said media content.

27. The computer system of claim 19, further comprising:

accessing an indicator associated with said media content for indicating to said compliance mechanism that a usage restriction is applicable to said media content.

28. The computer system of claim 19, further comprising:

altering said compliance mechanism in response to a change in a usage restriction applicable to said media content as applied by said online media service, wherein said usage restriction comprises a copyright restriction or licensing agreement applicable to said media content.

29. The computer system of claim 19 wherein said media content is received from a source coupled to said computer system, said source taken from a group consisting of:

a network;

an electronic media device;

a media storage device;

a media storage device inserted in a media device player;

a media player application; and

a media recorder application.